Radio Dots & Dashes (May 5 Edition)

The first casualty in the takeover of KNBR/680 and the other former Susquehanna stations in the Bay Area is Bruce MacGowan, the most prominent name — and the only on-air employee — turned loose by GM Tony Salvadore on Wednesday (May 3) in advance of today's changing of the guard at the cluster.

"That's what happens when one company buys another," Salvadore told the San Francisco Chronicle. "One of the things they do is make adjustments in spending levels."

Along with MacGowan, a 17-year veteran of KNBR, the Chronicle article noted that Valerie Blackburn, director of business operations for Susquehanna/SF, and Bob Sargent, sports sales manager for KNBR, were among "several others" let go by Salvadore as part of "a cost-cutting move dictated by (the) new owners."

Additional changes at KNBR and the other stations in the local Cumulus group — KTCT, KFOG/KFFG and KSAN — are probable.

RADIO CHICK GOES FREE — The latest rearrangement of the deck chairs at FreeFM 106.9 (KIFR) brings Leslie Gold, a/k/a "The Radio Chick," to the noon to 3 p.m. segment, with Turi Ryder "officially" fitting into the slightly tighter 10 a.m. to noon slot.

Ryder had been temporarily holding the midday job, but announced today that her job at the station — and her inclusion on its website — had been made official.

Penn Jillette's daily one-hour show has been moved to 11 p.m. on weeknights under the new schedule.

GENE BURNS INJURED — During a break in his show on KGO/810 on Monday evening (May 1), Gene Burns reportedly fell accidentally and sustained an injury that landed him in the hospital and kept him off the air the remainder of the week.

Pinch-hitting for Burns in his absence were John Rothmann and James Gabbert.